Gimp: Retouch portrait - how it works

You can also retouch your portrait photos step by step with the open source software GIMP. The image editing tool contains all the important functions to make annoying skin imperfections invisible or to get the perfect look of a glossy magazine. Read here how you can use the most important tools and effects from GIMP.

The retouching tools from GIMP: cloning and healing

With the two retouching tools cloning (keyboard shortcut C, tool icon stamp) and healing (keyboard shortcut H, tool icon plaster) you can transfer selected image information to another target area in the photo. In portrait retouching, you should prefer healing, because it also takes into account the structure and brightness of the target area. For a natural correction, for example of blemishes, proceed as follows:

1. First, zoom in on the area of ​​the recording that you want to correct. Simply press "+".
2. You can find the suitable "Heal" tool in the GIMP toolbox or via the menu »Tools« -> »Painting tools«. In the tool settings, choose a soft brush. The size of the brush tip depends on the correction you need to make. As a rule, a radius of 40 is suitable.
3. Now hold down the CTRL key and drag the cursor into the picture. You will now see a crosshair with which you can select a "clean" skin area. This area should be as close as possible to the area to be retouched so that structure and brightness are as similar as possible. Once you have found a suitable position, mark it with a click of the mouse. Release the CTRL key. the source area remains marked with a cross in the image for correction.
4. Now transfer the selected skin structure to the target area by clicking with the left mouse button on the skin areas to be corrected.
5. It often makes sense to choose different starting points for the correction. To do this, repeat steps 3 and 4.

Skin like velvet and silk - your portrait photos shine with Gimp

If you want the entire complexion to look smooth and gentle, you can work with special GIMP filters. This step requires the use of the GIMP level dialog.

1. Open your portrait and duplicate it in the layer dialog. The quickest way to do this is to click on the corresponding icon below the level dialog. Now you can continue working with the layer copy. Make sure that this level is highlighted in blue in the level dialog and is therefore active.
2. Select the menu »Filter« -> »Improve« -> »Remove stains«. In the filter settings, the checkmarks for "Adaptive" and "Recursive" should be missing, the radius of the filter should be 16. If you specify the threshold value for black as 8 and the threshold value for white as 245, the brightness and contrast of the basic photo are retained.
3. The filter affects the entire image, which leads to undesirable results in the area of ​​the hair and eyes. Therefore, add a layer mask to the blurred layer via the menu »Layer« -> »Mask« -> »Add layer mask«. In the dialog's pop-up menu, choose Black (full transparency).
4. Now expose the parts of the layer that should be blurred on the portrait. Use a soft brush (brush size 150 px) and paint with white on the layer mask. Make corrections by restoring the original state with black. For a natural result, draw with an opacity of 70 to 80 percent.
5. Finally, put the layers together using the menu »Layer« -> »New from visible« and save the image. If you do not want to save your image in GIMP format .xcf, you have to select the "Export" command since GIMP version 2.8.

The eye-catcher of an impressive portrait is the shining eyes

It is not without reason that the eyes are called the mirror of the soul. Therefore, you should not only focus your portrait shots on the eyes, but also emphasize them with the means of image processing.

1. First, sharpen your portrait using the "Filter" -> "Enhance" -> "Unsharp Mask" menu. You can accept the GIMP default values.
2. With the "Dodge" tool you set accents in the eye area. Brighten the white in the eye with the tool settings "Dodge" and "Highlights". Use a soft brush, the size of which approximates the pupils in the picture.
3. With the same tool you can darken the pupil itself or even eyelashes with "Postexposure" and "Shadow".
4. Finally, apply a layer mask as in the previous step. Then use a white brush to bring out the edited image elements and transfer them to your portrait.

These instructions are based on the GIMP version 2.8.6. The free image editing software can do much more. This practical tip shows you how to enjoy your photos in HDR.